Automatic livestock feeding machine



1 States Patent [72] inventor WarrenC.Reed

713 E. Prospect St., Kewanee, Illinois 61443 [21] AppLNo. 692,775

[22] Filed Dec. 22, 1967 [45] Patented Dec.1,1970

[54] AUTOMATIC LIVESTOCK FEEDING MACHINE 2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 1l9/5l.11, 1 19/56 [51] Int. Cl ..A0lk05/02 [50] Field of Search .v 1 19/52- [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,387,997 8/1921 Page 119/54 1,433,904 10/1922 Mudge 119/56 Primary Examiner-Aldrich F. Medbery Attorney-Gifford 1. Holmes ABSTRACT: An automatic livestock-feeding machine having improved means for dispensing feed in predetermined quantities and at predetermined intervals of time. The improved dispensing means including a rotatable feed supply drum having a plurality of feed compartments of different capacities disposed to transfer feed from a supply tank to an animal feed tray.

Patented Dec. 1, 1970 m wmDwE IN VENTOR. WARREN C. REED ATTORNEY N @130; @N mm wm om 1 1 i AUTOMATIC LIVESTOCK FEEDING MACHINE BACKGROUND or THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention: Animprovement in automatic equipment for feedinglivestock.

2. Description of the Prior Art: Livestock-feeding equipment of the type herein described is categorized by the two different types of feeding operations presently being utilized, one, the full feeding operation-and .two, the limited or feeding" operation. In the full feeding operation the livestock is confined to a relatively small area and the livestock is exposed to all the feed which'they can consume. The feeding apparatus for full feeding operations includes apparatus for scooping or augering the feed to'the feed bunks or self-contained gravity flow apparatus. In the limited operation the livestock are in large lots or in fields and supplemental quantities of feed are given to the livestock at predetermined time intervals. Present limited feeding of livestock is generally done manually by placing feed in troughs or bunks and insome instances by equipment which dispenses a certain quantity of feed in the trough or bunk at periodic intervals.

The disadvantages of the apparatus presently available for DESCRIPTION or THE PREFERRED MBODIMENT into the tank 12 and a lower portion 18 tapering down into a double-V construction. Each V has a series of openings 20 and 22 for discharging feed from the tank 12. It can be readily seen that the tank 12 may have a vertical divider (not shown) disposed within the tank 12 thereby permitting different feeds to be supplied in each side of the tank 12. The double-V construction provides advantageous results but within the purview of the invention it can be seen that a single-V lower portion can be utilized.

The tank 12 is rigidly mounted on skids 24, 26 and 28 by means of a plurality of vertical support members 30, 32 and 35 fixed to said skid and support members. It can be readily seen and with the purview of the invention that advantageous results can be realized by utilizing wheels in addition to or in place of the skids 24, and 28 whereby additional mobility is provided for the feeding machine '10. A plurality of dividing members 36 and 38 are alined respectively with the outer support members and 34, thereby defining separate feeding predetermined amount of feed and at predetermined intervals of time. 7

SUMMARY on THE INVENTION The present invention provides a novel livestock-feeding machine wherein the combination of volume feed tank, feed supply drums and feed pan provides for individual feeding of livestock predetermined quantities of feed at predetermined intervals of time. More particularly the feed supply drum includes a plurality of feed compartments of differing capacities and in operation has one such compartment open to receive feed from the feed tank and dispense the feed into the feed pan. The feed supply drums are driven by an electric motor controlled by a timing mechanism.

The disadvantages of existing apparatus as heretofore stated are overcome in that each animal is fed fresh feed from an in dividual feed pan as dispensed from the volume tank through the feed supply drum and each animal is fed the required quantity of feed at the desired intervals of time. The machine of the present invention may be utilized in the controlled area of a full feed operation or in an open area of a limited feed operation.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide .a livestock feeding machine wherein each animal of a herd is individually fed its predetermined requirements of afeed. A further object of the present invention is to provide a livestock-feeding machine suitable for use in a full feed operation or a limited feed operation.

A still further object of the present invention a is to provide a livestock feeding machine suitable for-feeding a'variety of types of livestock from the same machine. A stillfurther ob-' ject of the present invention is to provide a livestock-feeding machine which is economical to operate and which does not require attention for long intervals of time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side' elevational view of the livestock-feeding machine of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the livestock-feeding machine.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view partly broken awayshowing the feeding drum of the invention.

stations. Disposed in each station, between each combination of support members and dividing members (combinations 30 and 36 and combination 34 and 38), are feed pans 40 which are supported and held in place by means of the support members 30 and 34. For illustration purposes only the feeding machine 10 is shown having four feeding stations on each side. ltcan be readily seen the machine is not limited as to the number of stations which can be provided. Means for adjusting (not 'shown) the feed pans 40 may be included whereby their elevation is altered for the type of animal being fed.

Livestock feed from feed volume tank 12 passes through the series openings 20 and 22 into a series of feed supply drums 42 supports 54 and 56 (not shown) which are fixed to the tank 12. A single drum element of the supply drums 42 and 44 is located in each feeding station and disposed to supply feed to the feed pans 40. I

Referring now to FIG. 3 wherein the details of the drum elements 45 are illustrated there is shown four-compartments 58, 60, 62 and 64 each having different capacity. Each compartment is provided with a slidable lid 66, 68, and 72 construeted to, be inserted and removed from the drum 45.

Generally in operation of the feeding machine 10 only one of the lids 66, 68, 70 and 72 is removed thus permitting the predetermined quantity of feed to be transferred from the tank 12to element 45 to the feed pans 40. It can also be readily seen that advantageous results could; be obtained by having one or more lids removed thereby passing different quantities of food into the pans 40 at different intervals of time. It can also be seen that the various elements 45 may have different lids 66, 68, 70 and 72 removed from the compartments 58, 60,

62 and 64 thereby providing varying amounts of feed in each station in feed pans 40. The drum element 45 shown in the drawing includes four compartments but it can be readily seen that any number of compartments can be advantageously used and such modifications are to be considered within the purview of the present invention.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 there is shown power means for driving feed supply drums 42 and 44, the power supply means comprises an electric motor 74 disposed to drive drums 42 and 44 through a combination of belts and pulleys. Motor 74 through belt 7s drives pulley 7.3 which is mounted on shaft fill. Pulley 73 through belt 8-2 drives pulley 34 mounted on shaft 85 which in turn imparts motion to drum shaft 46 through belt 86 and pulley 88 mounted on shaft 46. A similar action drives shaft 48; pulley "73 through belt fill drives pulley Q2 mounted on shaft 94 which in turn imparts motion to drive shaft 4% through belt 96 and pulley 9S mounted on shaft Advantageously, shafts 80, 85 and 94 extend through the feed volume tank 12 and have mixing means (not shown) mounted thereon, the mixing means can be of any common form and may be of the nature of impeller blades. The impellcrs may advantageously be pitched to create the desired mixing action required for the particular feed used. it is understood that for certain feeds used for livestock that mixing is not required. 7

The electric motor 74 is controlled by means of a control mechanism Hill. 80th motor 74 and mechanism Mill are housed in a weather proofed housing W2 fixed to the tank l2. Control mechanism Mill may advantageously include an electric timer having the capability to sequence the operation of the motor 74 and thus the supply of feed from tank 12 through the feed drums 45 to feed pans dil. The control mechanism 1% may also advantageously include a reversing means for further varying the sequence of operation.

OPERATION In operation of the livestock-feeding machine 10 the volume tank 12 is filled with feed through inlet 16. Feed is thus available to exit through the series of openings 2b and 22, Drum elements 35 are disposed to have one or more of the compartments 53, 60, a2 and 64 open to receive feed through openings 29 and 22. The particular compartment or compartments which are open is dependent-upon the quantity of feed required in the feed pan 4!) at that feeding station.

At preselected times during a 24 -hour day control mechanism llltl actuates electric motor '74 which in turn drives the drum 45 which rotates one revolution. During the middle of the revolution the feed from the compartments of drum 45 are deposited into feed pan 4% During the rotation of drums 45 a mixing action occurs within the tank l2 by means of the impellers mounted on the shafts 843, 85 and E 4 which shafts are driven by the motor 74. Further, during the rotation of the drums 45, passage of feed through the openings 2t 22 is prevented by means ofexterior of the'drums 45 which provides an effective seal in combination with the openings .7 and-22.

it will be understood that the livestock-feeding machine which is herein disclosed and described is presented for the purposes of explanation and illustration and is not intended to indicate limits of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the following claims.

,l claim:

l. A livestock-feeding feeding machine for dispensing predetermined quantities of feed to livestock at predetermined intcrvals-of time during successive periods of time comprising in combination, a support structure, a volume feed tank mounted atop said structure and having a plurality ofbottorn openings for passage of feed through the lower portion or" the feed tank, a plurality of feed-distributing members sunported by said. structure and being disposed below feed tank and arranged for providing feed for individual animals, a plurality of generally cylindrical drum means disposed between said bottom openings arranged for passage of feed from said feed tank to said feed-distributing members and being positioned for receiving feed from saidtanlr and depositing same in said distributing members, said cylindrical drum means including a plurality of feed conveying compartments of graded volumetric capacities for conveying different quantitles of feed between the openings for effecting passage of feed from said tank to said distributing members, a plurality of closure means for said feed conveyins compartments for preventing passage of feed from said tanl't to said distributing members, each said closure means being arranged slideably in selective relationship to each said feed conveying compartment of said drum means to provide a means for the closure of one or several of compartments by opening only a predetermined number of single or combined compartments at the will of the operator, and time controlled power means for rotating said drum means at least one revolution at predetermined intervals of time.

2. A livestock feeder according to claim l. including pitched impeller means. mounted upon a shaft driven bysaid power means, said impeller means being disposed for impelling the feed longitudinally in said feed tan}; axially with relationship to the shaft. 

